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(No Model.) A 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. K. SMEDES.

EMBALMING BOARD.

Patented Feb. 5, 1889.

No. sgmgg.

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(No Model.) i .2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. K SMEDBSl BMBALMING BOARD.

No. 397,394. Patented Feb. 5, 1889.

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y[lnirnn Sterns Nldnrnr @trice LEVI K. SMEDES, OF NEWY '.YORlx, N. Y.

eMeALMiNe-eonan.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,394, dated February 5, 1889.

Application illed September 13, 1888. Serial No. 285,321. @lo model.)

To LIZ whom it 71mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, Levi K. Stinnes, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented new and useful improvements in Einbalming-Boards, ot which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an embalmingboard; and it consists in an improvement in the construction thereof, as hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying (lrawings, in which- Figure l is an under side view of an einbahning-board constructed according to my inven tion and extended ready Yfor use, excepting that the side rail, E,which is 'farthest t'ro in the observer, is folded down. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line .r .fc of Fig. i, looking in the direction ot" arrow 2. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line :r of Fig. i. as it would appear when the board is folded, looking in the direction of arrow l. Fig. -1 is a longitudinal section on the line .n of Fig..

l, the board being represented as standing on its feet. Fig. 5 is a section similar to that shown in Fi 4, except that the headpiece is raised.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The einbaln'iing-board which is the subject of this application Vis made in two divisions or sections, A and li, which are connected to each other by hinge-joints C, so that they can be folded up to the position shown in Fig. 2i. Each section is j'irovided with a main outer frame, D, to which the side rails, E C', andthe legs lF are hinged or pivoted. The trame D is suitably strengthened by cross-bars X.

The side rails are made :in two sections, E E', which are hinged to each other at g g in the same line in which the hinges (l C of the board are placed. The side rails are hinged at G G G G to the inner sides o[i` the main :frame D, as is plainly seen in Figs. -t and 5. The joints of the hinges are placed above the lower edge ot said frame, so as to allow the side rails to swing up within the trame D, as shown in Fig. "l, thereby also causingtheside rails, when unfolded, as in Figs. i and 5 and in that side of Fig. l which is nearest io the observer, to be iiush with the outer sides oi' the main traine D.V

The legs F of the board, two in number for each section A l, are pivoted to the main trame D at ll, as shown in Figs. y-Jt and 5, so that they can be folded up along the inner sides of the frame, as rejiiresented in Figs. 2 and 3, and also in dotted lines in Fig. l. The side rails are cut away at :i 3 to forni recesses near their ends adjacent to the sides ot' the main trame D, so as to prevent them from interfering' with the legs F when the latter are folded up into the frame. The legs F of each section A B are connected by a cross-bar, I. Then the legs F are swung down to the position shown in l1`igs. -iand 5, they are engaged by spring-catches J, which are fastened to the inner faces of the side rails,l' 1 lil,having at their free ends beveled hooks K, which pass through openings l, made for them in the legs and catch by their hooks onto the legs, so as to lock them in their unfolded position. The legs are prevented from swinging open too tar by stops M, which are also seeuredio the side rails.

It is obvious that when the sections A B of the board are extended, and the side rails, E E', swung down, and the legs F brought down and engaged by the springcatches J, as rep resented in Figs. 4 and 5, the sections A B and the side rails and legs are etfectually locked open.

rlhe board has a covering, N, of wood or other suitable material, in which is formed a depression, O, exteniiling across the table and situated below and near the i'oot of t-he adjustable back P. 'lhe object of this depression is to provide a receptacle for the lower part of the body, and therebjr prevent the sub ject under treatment from sliding downward when the back piece, P, is raised on its hinges. The depression may be varied in depth accord ing to the judgment o'i' the builder. An opening in the covering N may be substituted For the depression, if desired.

The back l" consists oi? an inner trame inside of the main trame l), to a cross-bar, X, oi' which iis lower end is hinged bythehinges Q. 'ihe upper end oi1 the back l? is formed into an adjustable head piece, R, which is hinged at 8 to a erossbar of the back P, so as to be adjustable thereon. The crossbars of the back P and of the head-piece to which the hinges are applied are chamfe'red at their edges to permit of such adjustment as is clearly shown in Figs. 13,4, and 5. Theback l is provided with two ratchets, S, arranged at the ends of the ratchet-'frame T, whose upper partis pivoted at U to the sides of the back P, the said ratchet-iframe T being free to swing on the pivots U. The teeth of the ratchets S are ei'lgaged by the stationary detent V, whose ends are secured in the sides ot the main trame D, as indicatedin the several figures of the drawings. lVhen the ratchetfranie Tis l'olded up within the back l), vas represented in Figs. 2, 3,and 4, it rests upon said stationary d etent V ,which then serves to keep it up within the sides ot' the back P.

The ratchet-frame T contains in the middle ol its length. another ratchet, XV, which, in connection with the detent Y, serves to adjust the head-piece R upon theback P. This ratchet XV has its teeth arranged reversely to the direction of the teeth of the ratchets S, as is indicated Vin Fi g. 5,where the stationary detent V is represented to be in engagement with the lower tooth ot one of said ratchets S, and part ot the upper tooth ot' one otl said ratehets S is seen projecting behind the back o'l' ratchet lV. The detent Y is pivoted by its upper end to a bar, Z, ot the head-piece R, and its lower end is 'forked7 as indicated in Fig. The ratchet XV is a closed ratchehand its front bar, l, passes between the forks of the detent,whose forks are closed at their ends by a pin, which engages the teeth of the ratchet lV. By this construction of ratchet lV and detent Y the detent is prevented from becoming disconnected from the ratchet.

The bar Z ot the head-piece is provided with perlorations Je to hold the shank ot' a movable head-rest, 5, which may be set in one or another oi them.

lVhen the board is folded np t'or transportation or t'or storing it away, it is locked by means ot' hooks (5, vwhich engage with eyes 7, provided in the sidcs ot' the main traine.

The sides of the main traine are provided with hand-holes f) at convenient points for lifting and handling the board.

vhat l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The divided cmbalniing-board A B, and the folding legs F, pivoted to the main traine D and adapted to be folded up within the frame, in combination with the folding divided side rails, E E', hinged to the frame D and provided with recesses 3 and spring-catches J, sub stantially as shown and described.

The combination, with an cmbalmingboard and its frame, ct' the adjustable hinged back l, the suf'ingin ratchet-frame T, pivoted to the back and having'ratehets S and \V,the stationary detent V, secured to the trame ot' the board, the adjustable hinged head-piece R on the back, and the detent Y, pivoted to the head-piece, substantially as described.

In testimony whcreotl I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence otl two subscribing witnesses.

LEVI K. SMEDES. lVitn esses:

J. 'VAN SANrvooRD, E. F. KASTENHUBER.

iL. Si 

